Meunites מְעוּנִים
A people group who were enemies of Israel.
Who is Meunites in the Bible?
The Meunites were an ancient people group living near Israel who frequently opposed God's people throughout the Old Testament. They appear in the Chronicles as enemies of Judah and Israel during the reigns of several kings, including Hezekiah, Uzziah, and Jehoshaphat. During Hezekiah's time, the Simeonites attacked and defeated the Meunites, destroying their tents and settlements (1 Chronicles 4:41), and later God granted King Uzziah victory against them (2 Chronicles 26:7). In the days of King Jehoshaphat, the Meunites allied with the Moabites and Ammonites to attack Judah, but the Lord caused these enemies to turn against each other, resulting in their complete defeat (2 Chronicles 20:1, 22-23). Though their exact origin and location remain unspecified in Scripture, the Meunites appear to have been a nomadic or semi-nomadic people dwelling east and south of Israel, serving in biblical narrative as examples of nations that opposed God's people and ultimately faced divine judgment.
Biography
The Meunites are mentioned in the books of Chronicles as a people group who lived in the vicinity of Israel and were enemies of God's people. In the time of King Hezekiah, the Simeonites attacked and defeated the Meunites, destroying their tents and dwellings (1Ch.4.41). Later, during the reign of King Uzziah, God helped him against the Meunites (2Ch.26.7). In the days of King Jehoshaphat, the Meunites joined with the Moabites and Ammonites to attack Judah, but God caused them to turn against each other, resulting in their defeat (2Ch.20.1, 22-23). The exact location and origin of the Meunites are not specified in the Bible, but they appear to have been a nomadic or semi-nomadic people who lived in the regions east and south of Israel.
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 4:41
"These who were noted by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings as well as the Meunites who were there, devoting them to destruction even to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their..."
2 Chronicles 2 verses
- 2 Chronicles 26:7
"God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabs living in Gur-baal, and against the Meunites."
- 2 Chronicles 20:1
"After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Hebrew | מְעוּנִים | — | — |
| (same form as previous) | Hebrew | מְעוּנִים | — | — |
| Group | Hebrew | עַמּוֹנִי | ʿamwōniy | an Ammonite or (the adjective) Ammonitish |